1199 | 959 | Walking Accessibility to Primary Healthcare Services: An Inequity Factor for Olders in Portuguese Cities (Portugal) | Eduarda Marques da Costa, Nuno Marques da Costa, Ana Louro, Matiana Dias, Marcela Barata
This paper discusses the walking accessibility to primary healthcare by the olders in Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA) and 3 medium-sized Portuguese cities in Portugal, and its contribution for age-friendly environments as a factor of inequity. Constrains emerged from the collation of the supply approach, represented by service catchment areas based on walking distance time, and the demand approach, through a survey. The location and density of primary health network are a major factor, as it is related to distinct land use patterns within the LMA and in the medium-sized cities (Aveiro, Coimbra and Faro). The methodology used includes the collection and geo-referencing of support equipment for the elderly, data that will be compared together with the demographic characteristics and the type of urban occupation of the study areas. The settlement structure influences the potential walkability to primary healthcare. The discrepancy between the potential walking accessibility and the real options is notorious, as olders` choices are diversified in terms of transportation modes and destinations, but mostly keeping relatively short time distances. This phenomenon is also influenced by factors such as personal preference, difficulty to walk, negative perceptions about the surroundings, and insufficient care support. This debate is already an effective concern of local authorities with spatial planning, social and health competences, insofar as solutions in terms of service flexibility and new travel solutions adapted to the specific needs of the olders are a growing reality in the LMA, promoting more age-friendly, health, and inclusive environments, and hence an equitable metropolis. The study is integrated in Project PTDC/GES-TRA/32121/2917, Grampcity – Moving Smartly Towards Accessible and Inclusive Urban Environments for our Elders.
Eduarda Marques da Costa, Nuno Marques da Costa, Ana Louro, Matiana Dias, Marcela Barata
Centre of Geographical Studies, Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning, Associated Laboratory Terra, University of Lisbon, Portugal
ID Abstract: 959